First Nations Visit To Swap Ideas With Iwi

News Release
For immediate release
March 16, 2015

First Nations Visit To Swap Ideas With Iwi

If anyone wants to see what Tino Rangitira could look like Paul Stanley urges a visit to the First Nations Listuguj clan.

Stanley (Tainui/Mataatua) is chief executive of the Listuguj Mi’gmaq Government in Quebec, Canada where he has management responsibility for the police force, emergency services, river and forest rangers, road maintenance, water supply and waste water, education, health, welfare, as well as for a range of businesses run on behalf of the Listuguj people.

He points out that many of the services that would come under central or local government control in New Zealand are the responsibility of the Listuguj Mi’gmaq Government.

“Our advantage in Canada is we control the integration of health, schools, policing and social services ourselves.”

After observing groups in Alaska, both the west and east coasts of Canada and across the contiguous United States and now working within a First Nations organisation, Stanley believes a lot can be learned from indigenous groups across the world visiting each other and talking through the various issues they face.

“From my observations some things iwi groups are doing could be of value to the First Nations and there are also some things the First Nations are doing that could be useful for iwi to observe.

Stanley is in New Zealand with Listuguj Mig’Maq Government chief Scott Martin to talk with a range of iwi organisations.

“We are exchanging ideas around investments and services,” he says.

Listuguj runs businesses in fishing and forestry with a fleet of 11 fishing vessels and an annual harvest of 38,000 cubic metres of wood. It is also involved in wind energy generation. Up to 700 people work for the organisation. First Nations peoples do not pay personal tax or GST while purchasing or living on a reservation. The Listuguj Mi’gmaq Government creates its own laws and is basically a sovereign country within a country.

Stanley says Listuguj has similar issues of drugs and alcohol, poverty, and governance that are seen in New Zealand. They are also dealing with raupatu issues and looking at ways of investing for future generations.

“I am particularly interested in showing my chief Whanau Ora models as that is something we are introducing at Listuguj. We are ahead of that curve in Canada.”

If all goes well on this trip Paul Stanley would like to introduce the idea of secondments between Listuguj and New Zealand iwi.

“I call it ‘Natives Without Borders’ as that describes our intent. We’re talking swapping houses and vehicles in Canada for the same in Aotearoa for the duration of the exchange. So all iwi would need to cover is return airfares. What each could learn would be invaluable.”

“It would be a way of enriching the experience of working for iwi organisations, gaining international experience and contributing to a wider world view of what’s possible.”

Scott Martin and Paul Stanley will be in New Zealand from March 16-26 2015.

ENDS

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